Page 21 - The Window_ A Foundations' Style Rapier

It knocked the small rock free, and Lily, who Continued from page 19
got her feet on the odd rock, grabbed on to the
speeding rock. It crashed into a barricade of
boulders. Over them was Iris.
Slowly and steadily, Lily climbed onto the
boulders. They rolled under her trembling feet, but
none gave way. She jumped on the rock next to
Iris not a second too soon. As soon as her feet left
the last boulder, they all broke and were swept
away by the raging current. The good news was,
Lily and Iris were one step closer to escaping the
river’s hungry jaws and continuing on their
journey. They just had to get out.
They were now on rocks next to each other.
“Step on my rock and get out. You and Cortem can
pull me in. It’s too dangerous for just one of us.”
So Iris did as Lily said. She almost slipped
again when she got out of the water, but regained
her balance and caught Cortem. “Now we can pull
you up!”
They each grabbed one of Lily’s arms, and
with a huge pull, got her out of the water. They all
collapsed on the ground, too tired and wet to say
anything. Lily had a cut on her leg, Cortem on his
arm, and Iris on her cheek.
“I lost my bag. It had the map, and clothes,
and food, and―”
“Don’t worry about it. We’re alive. That’s all I Untitled Painting
really care about. We are halfway to Cente. There Emily Gable, Class of 2026
we can get more food, and perhaps a better map.”
Iris looked at Lily, who was crying. “I thought Most of them, that is. Lily stayed awake.
I knew what to do. I don’t. I have no idea what to She couldn’t sleep.
do. We go to Cente, and then what? Where do we She carefully got out of their lean-to and
go? How do we explain to people that we are sat down on the trail. Why did she make them
rebelling from our jobs and trying to save our come along? If they had gone the right way,
family, without knowing how we are going to save there would have been no river, no lost
them? It’s impossible. We should go back.” possessions. Now, they were off the beaten path,
Cortem looked astounded. “Go back? After looking as haphazard as their tent. She tried to
what we just did? No. I’m going. I don’t care that tell them to go back home, but they wouldn’t
we don’t know, that’s what we’re good at! Thinking listen. No one ever listened to her. Not even
on the fly. And who cares if Cente doesn’t trust us? when she knew she was right.
We don’t know that. We’ll cross that bridge when They always went with their initial
we come to it.” instinct. Always saying ‘We’ve come so far,’ or
Lily looked hopeful after that pep talk from ‘Look at what we’ve accomplished!’ It was never,
Cortem. “Tomorrow we’ll leave again. We can rest ‘Maybe you’re right,’ or ‘I agree.’ Why didn’t
here tonight. I don’t really know, how, but―” She people use their brains, instead of daring?
was interrupted by rustling leaves and breaking Then, she realized that part of her wanted to
branches. Iris and Cortem had already started continue.
building a makeshift tent. Lily got up, winced as “Look at that. I don’t even agree with
the pain in her leg hit her, and then helped Iris myself! I think I want to go home, but my body
gather leaves. tells me to keep going. Which one should I
Once all the leaves were gathered, all the choose?” She knew the terrifying answer. She
sticks assembled, and all the stones placed, Iris, had to continue. She had to help her family. If
Lily, and Cortem relaxed for the first time in a this failed, well, Mim would never let me come
while. Ever since they took Lor it had been rush, home, thought Lily. She would be too upset that
rush, rush, pack, pack, pack, and then go, go, go. I gave up. Now I have to finish this. I bit off more
They laid down their aching limbs, and fell asleep. than I could chew. 20